   Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News Vol.9 No.3 March, 2008 Holiday In Donegal in 2008! |
| Donegal Earthquake! A Donegal based Geophysics Professor, John McCloskey, confirmed that the loud bang heard through wide areas of Donegal in the early hours of February 27th was indeed an earthquake which measured 2.4 on the richter scale. The epicentre of the earthquake was on Inch Island, where ironically, Prof. McClosky of Ulster University now lives. The Donegal earthquake was preceded by an earthquake in Norway a few hours earlier and was followed a day later by a larger earthquake felt in Wales and wide areas of England.  Recreational Diving, Dive Training and Angling throughout the year in Donegal Save Tara The Save Tara campaign have given a guarded welcome to the fact that Minister Gormley has announced that he is placing a permanent preservation order on Rath Lugh in the Gabhra Valley, currently in danger from the route of the new M3 motorway. This follows extensive lobbying by the Save Tara group and others. However, the actual line of the Permanent Preservation Order is unclear and the trees and forest at Lismullin /Rath Lugh along with the unstable esker that forms part of the foundations of the Rath are still in danger of destruction from the motorway. The Save Tara campaign has invited the Minister for the Environment Mr. John Gormley, Ms. Mary Coughlan, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Ms Mary Wallace, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to save the old treesin Rath Lugh at a planting ceremony to be held next Friday 7th March 2008, during National Tree Week. The Save Tara campaign would also welcome the protection to include the numerous birds who are commencing nesting at this time of year, and to the badgers who have been greatly disturbed due to the M3 works. See the Sacred Ireland website. Gluaiseacht Protest Gluaiseacht is a environmental and social justice group bringing together grassroots organisations, concerned individuals and student groups from all over Ireland to take action on social, environmental and political issues. Gluaiseacht are mobilising people from all over Ireland to travel to London on St. Patrick's weekend to "return the pipeline to Shell!" The environmental group are bringing a 70ft pipeline to Shell H.Q. on St Patrick's day to protest against the give away and mismanagement of Ireland’s natural resources and to show solidarity with the Shell to Sea campaign. For more info see Gluaiseacht Seachtaine na Gaeilge Seachtaine na Gaeilge week is from March 3rd - 7th when everyone is encouraged to use whatever Irish they have in every day speech. Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig duit! St. Patrick's Day The St. Patrick's Day Festival is now a week long celebration from March 13th - 17th. The 2008 St. Patrick's Festival Parade in the capital will be lead by the Inishowen Carnival Group AND Whirligig, both from Donegal, while Mary Black will conclude the festivities with a concert at the National Concert Hall. See St Patrick's Festival.ie Gardaí Driving Practises It has emerged that 20% of Gardaí not qualified to drive Garda vehicles, that more than 2,500 gardaí have not completed the "required driver training course" for the police force. The Department of Justice has admitted that 1/5 of gardaú must be given special dispensation by supervisors to drive Garda vehicles. The findings came about after Fine Gael TD, Damien English, raised questions about the numbers of gardaí qualified to drive Garda cars. Eigse Uladh Eigse Uladh 2008 is taking place in the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park from March 7th – 9ú Márta when the theme is 'Genealogy and our ancestors' with Speakers Dr. Dónall Ó Baoill and Dr. Nollaig Ó Muraile of Queens University. For more information telephone Comharchumann Forbartha Ghaoth Dobhair on 074 31008/32208 or email Emma Ní Ghallchobhair Diary Date for 2008 Why not include Ardara in one of your weekends away. The Walking Festival is on in Ardara from March 15th - 17th. Check the website for details. Ardara. Holiday Home Tax Donegal County Council continue to debate controversial proposals which seek to impose a tax on holiday homes in the county. The issue was due to be decided at the last monthly meeting of the council but was adjourned to allow for moredebate. There are an estimated 8,000 holiday homes in the county, largely owned by Northern Irish holiday makers and Donegal emigrants. It is estimated that up €4 million euro could be raised through this taxation. Arts Council funding for Donegal €1.3 million euro has been allocated by Arts Council to Donegal projects in 2008. 21 organisations and individuals will receive funding with special recognition being given to the Errigal Arts Festival in the allocation. See Arts Council for details. Sult Beidh SULT speisialta ar siúl Déardaoin, 13ú Márta 2008 in Vicar St. mar chuid de Sheachtain na Gaeilge agus St. Patrick's Festival. Is iad Prison Love, John Spillane, Slide agus Des Bishop na haíonna a bheas páirteach ann. Tá na ticéid ar fáil anois ó www.ticketmaster.ie. Is é seo an imeacht is mó a bheas ar siúl i mBaile Átha Cliath le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge agus b'fhiú go mór teacht amach agus páirt a ghlacadh ann. Is féidir leat eolas a fháil faoi imeachtaí SULT ar do ghuthán póca. Chun clárú don tseirbhís seo, seol an focal GAEILGE chuig an uimhir 53030. Cosnaíonn sé 30 cent é seo a dhéanamh ach níl aon chostas ar an tseirbhís ina dhiaidh sin. Faigheann Sult tacaíocht airgid ó Fhoras na Gaeilge ( www.gaeilge.ie ). On Thursday the 13th of March there will be a special SULT taking place in Vicar St. to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge and St. Patrick's Festival. Performing on the night will be Prison Love, John Spillane, Slide and Des Bishop. Tickets are available now on Ticketmaster. It promises to be a magnificent night's entertainment so make sure you book early and don't miss out! Chernobyl Children Any family willing to give two weeks holidays to two children from Chernobyl in the month of July should contact Máire at 074-95-31055 (during working hours only) or Bernie at 074 9531292.  The Donegal Woman by John Throne A 'Must Read' for everyone with an interest in Donegal Glencolmcille A new hill walking centre has opened in Glencolmcille. Check out Ionad Siul. The annual "Ceol sa Ghleann", Glencolmcille Traditional Arts Festival, will take place from Sunday 23rd - Saturday 29th of March 2008. This year's programme is crammed with concerts and recitals, Donegal fiddle, accordion, song and dance workshops, Ceili and sessions. As usual "Ceol sa Ghleann" brings together some of Ireland's finest musicians, singers and storytellers. Among the highlights this year are a masterclass with fiddler James Byrne and box player Tom Byrne. They will be joined for a session by visiting singers and dancers from Armagh and Conamara including Maire Ni Choilm, Patricia Flynn and Brian Cunningham and many more. In addition the festival committee is especially pleased to welcome two traditional musicians from Norway and Sweden to Donegal for the first time, fiddle player Mattias Helje from Lima and box player Per Johan Moslet from Selbu. For bookings and more details email: Ceol sa Ghleann  Click Pride.ie for Vintage Style Gaelic Football & Hurling T-Shirts Delivered World Wide |
 Aghla shrouded in a snow cloud, Lough Finn, March 3rd, 2008 © Doherty urges Government to move on Fullerton inquiry Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty has called on the Government to establish an independent inquiry into the killing of Donegal Councillor Eddie Fullerton. Speaking in the Seanad today Senator Doherty paid tribute to Councillor Fullerton and said the State here has as many questions to answer about the murder as the British state. He said, “In reply to Questions from my colleague Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, the Taoiseach yesterday stated that the Government would facilitate an agreed comprehensive all-party motion on collusion and provide time to debate it. I welcome that response because these Statements in the Seanad and the earlier Statements in the Dáil are inadequate without an agreed resolution and a course of action to follow. It is not enough just to state our views. “As a Donegal representative I want to make special mention of the murder of Donegal Sinn Féin County Councillor Eddie Fullerton in his home in Buncrana in May 1991. I was too young to know Eddie personally. Some older members of the House here may have known him as he was a very popular elected representative not only in his own county but throughout the country. He was an exemplary republican and leader of his community. “Eddie was killed in this jurisdiction at the height of the campaign of collusion orchestrated by the British state forces in the North. The Garda investigation – if it could be called an investigation – was totally inadequate and the State here has as many questions to answer about the murder as the British state. “The Fullerton family has been campaigning for an independent public inquiry into Eddie’s murder. They received the unanimous backing of Donegal County Council for that call in 2005. In November 2006 the family finally met the Taoiseach, after many requests from them to do so. However, an inquiry has not so far been announced. I urge the government to establish such an inquiry without further delay and call on all Senators to support such a demand.” The Commodore Barry Club, Philadelphia The Commodore Barry Club affectionately known as The Irish Centre is proud to present a concert featuring Ireland's music legend Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones on Friday March 7th 2008 beginning at 8.30pm at The Commodore Barry Club, Carpenter Lane and Emlen St in West Mt Airy, Philadelphia. Admission; $20 in advance, $23 at the door. Advance tickets are available at Commodore Barry Club or online at www.theirishcenter.com/ceili.php The Commodore Barry Club was founded in 1958 and is currently celebrating it's 50th Anniversary. It is the centre for all Irish cultural activity in the Delaware Valley. Turf-Cutting DVD Launched for Charity A Carndonagh charity DVD showing traditional turf-cutting skills in the hills of Inishowen has sold out twice and is now into its third edition with all the proceeds from the sale of the DVD going to the Alzheimer's Unit in Carndonagh Hospital. Members of the McFarland family - Larry, Gerry, Niall and Leo - joined forces with Joseph McElhinney and Harry McDaid to produce this authentic record of an ancient craft for future generations. The film follows the entire process of preparing turf, from 'paring', which is removing the sod above the bank, to cutting, footing and bringing the turf back to keep the home fires burning during the long winter months. Those who've braved the bog in fine weather and foul over the years will no doubt appreciate this tribute to the hard work of our ancestors and generations past. The DVD shows exactly, in every detail, how turf was cut in 1964, from the bikes the men rode out to the bog, to their peaked caps and wellington boots to the old kettle used to make tea on a turf fire in the bog. If you would like to purchase the DVD call Larry McFarland on (00353) 086 894 8241 or email The McFarlands. The DVD costs €12 euro plus €5 postage (Ireland and Europe) or $20 (including postage) to the United States.  The Index of the Best Websites on Irish Stuff 11 Years Online! Borderlines Currently on display in the Donegal County Museum is a new exhibition - Borderlines. This is a cross border touring photographic exhibition, archive and hardback publication. This significant collection of recordings and photographs gives voice to people with experience of life along the border. The project includes contributions from Fermanagh, Tyrone, Cavan, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo, Donegal, Derry/Londonderry, Armagh, Down and Louth. The researchers recruited to carry out the interviews were local to the border and from diverse backgrounds. The resulting archive goes beyond differences and stereotypes. Each interview is unique: some are very personal, others less so. Some took place over several days in the privacy of the kitchen or living room, one in a hotel room in Bosnia. It includes ‘everyday’ events like getting children to school through roadblocks, telling ‘lies’ about your job to protect your life, or having to leave your land. ‘Borderlines’ is part of a wider project examining how we should remember the events connected with the conflict on the island of Ireland. It is a Gallery of Photography project organised in collaboration with Dara Training and Consultancy. Speaking about the exhibition, Caroline Carr of The Donegal County Museum said: "This is a very special project exploring the difficult and sensitive history of the border area. The research has been carefully and sensitively handled, and the resulting archive, exhibition and book give a powerful insight into people’s different perspectives. It will be obvious to anyone who visits this exhibition that many individuals have spoken out for the first time about their lives and experiences". The exhibition runs until April. Admission is free. Opening hours: 10am – 4.30pm, Mon – Fri, 12.30- 1pm Lunch, 1 – 4.30pm Sat. For further information email Donegal County Museum. Twin Towns Environment Group The first meeting of the Twin Towns Environment Group for 2008 was held in St.Mary's Parish Centre on February 12th. The group extend best wishes to St. Mary's N.S. in their endeavours to secure a third International Green Flag, and compliment them on their great efforts to preserve the environment and on their lovingly tended garden. After a discussion regarding the proposed erection of bird boxes in Drumboe Woods the group, hope the plan will go ahead as it would be a great attraction on nature walks. Another addition to enhance the walk through the woods is a large boulder at the upper entrance, which bears a verse of a poem by local Poet Frances Brown. The next Environment meeting takes place on Tuesday, March 11th.  Find your home in Donegal DonegalCounty.com Radio DonegalCounty.com & Dún na nGall.com is online for eleven years, making it the longest established website about Donegal. The site receives over a million hits a year. You can hear the Donegal news from Patricia Sharkey, editor of this website, live in Pennslyvannia on 'Echoes of Erin' radio show on Sundays from 1.00-2.00pm and online at Echoes of Erin. Listeners in Brisbane, Australia can catch Sharkey's 'View from the Hills' on Saturdays between 12.30 and 1.30pm on Caomhín O'Seoige's Irish show on 4EB 98.1 FM. If you are in Sydney you can listen to Sydney Irish Radio on 107.3FM on Sundays from 7.30 to 9.00am local time (see Sydney Irish Radio). If you would like to advertise your product or service to a worldwide audience of people with an interest in Donegal email info@Dún na nGall.com. |
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